Fence and fence post construction



1953 K. T. TORSTENSEN FENCE AND FENCE POST CONSTRUCTION Filed March 13,1950 INVENTOR.

KmsT/A/v If TORSTENSEN ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 10, 1953 FENCE FENCE POSTCONSTRUCTION Kristian Trygve Torstensen. Millet,v Alberta, CanadaApplication March 13, 1950, Serial No. 149,240

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fence postconstruction and particularly to fence post construction employing aplurality of cement units fitted over a metallic.

rod with the fence wires being received in grooves in the end surfacesof the units.

Among the features and advantages of the instant invention are itssimplicity and the ease with which it may be constructed at the factoryand assembled at the site. Further, the fence post construction is cheapand the cement units may be made rapidly in conventional mass productionmachinery. Again, the posts will not deteriorate or decompose as in thecase of the usual wood posts.

A further feature and advantage of the instant invention is the factthat the fence wire may be placed in contact with a thin metal rod whichserves as a central stringer for the blocks which comprise the post,thereby establishing a ground contact. This feature is particularlyimportant in the protection of live stock during electrical storms inthat the charge of the lightning is dissipated to the ground and doesnot electrccute live stock which may be in contact with or adjacent thefence, at not uncommon mishap in fences employing non-conductive postssuch as wood.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a cement block. used to construct a post.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a fence embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of a fragment of a fence.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a modified block.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a further modified block.

As has been indicated, the instant invention is concerned with a fencepost construction wherein a plurality of concrete blocks formed with acentral core II are placed over a rod l2 having a diameter only slightlyless than that of the core.

The blocks l0 used in the fence post construction are preferably formedof concrete and, particularly, may be made in automatic machinery suchas that used for the production of cement building blocks. It will beunderstood that the shape of said blocks in cross-section is optional,in that they may be made round (as shown in Figs. 1-4) square (as shownin Fig. polygonal or in any other desired shape. Preferably said blocksare circular and approximately three inches in diameter andapproximately eight inches in height. The central axis is provided witha core H for the reception of the rod 12, the

2 diameter of the core being slightly greater than that of the rod withwhich. theblocks for the buildingare used. Across one of the endsurfaces of the block is a V-shaped. groove 13 for the reception offencewire. 14,, said groove being ,so dimensioned that when a, fence wire isclamped between two adjacent blocks the wire. 14 will be held in placeand willnot sag. Preferably the groove is so positioned-that the fencewire I i will be held in contact with the rod l2 so that an electricalconnection between the two will be established and maintained. i

The rod I2 is preferably round in cross-section and of a diameter ofapproximately fivesixteenths inch. Its length determines the height ofthe fence post l6 and preferably it is a little greater than amultipleof the length of an indi: vidual block ID. A head I! is provided at oneend of the rod as by welding around steel washer thereto, said headbeingof the same or lesser diameter than that of a block. The head itconstitutes the abutment for the lowermost block It. It also establishesgood ground contact for the dispersion of lightning when the post It isburied in the soil. The upper end of the rod is threaded to receive nutl8.

In construction of a fence, a rod i2 of suitable length is selected forthe required height of the post It. The required number of blocks Hi tocomplete the required height of post is placed over the rod, thelowermost block abutting the head IT. The end of the post It is thensuitably anchored and buried in the soil. The horizontal fence wires Mare then placed inside the grooves 13 and pulled tight so that the wiresdo not sag. The nut l8 which bears against a washer is is tightened thusexerting pressure clamping all the blocks on rod l2 together and thusthe fence wires M are clamped within grooves it. Because of the taperedshape of the grooves l3 and the flat end surface of the adjacent blockbearing against the side of the wire l4 opposite the groove 43 the wireis clamped securely in position. Further, as has been stated, wire I4 isin contact with the rod l2 and any electrical charge transmitted to wireit is grounded. In this connection the grooves l3 are provided alongsideof the central bore of the blocks but in such a fashion that the bore iscut into in order to insure electrical contact.

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the block Ida illustrated in Fig. 1 andwherein the shape of the block is rectangular rather than cylindrical.

A modification is indicated at Fig. 4 wherein for convenience inassembling the posts at the site, diametrically opposed markers 2| areprovided on the exposed surface of the blocks l0 in alignment with theends of the transverse groove 13 so that the workmen assembling andsetting the posts and wire fencing may readily determine the properpositioning of the grooves I3 for rapid construction of the fence. Themarkers 2| may be painted on the exposed surface or may be formed as anindentation or protuberance on the surface of the block. Preferably themarkers may be formed as grooves at the time the block units arestripped from the casting machine.

A principal advantage in the present fence construction lies in thecheapness of the posts employed from the standpoint oforiginalinvestment and maintenance and replacement. Fencing, in the vastranching and other areas is a serious economic factor and this isparticularly true where timber is scarce. In this connection many of theareas requiring extensive fencing are practically devoid .of accessiblewood fence posts, or, the posts which are available are extremelyexpensive. The present invention solves the problem from the standpointof initial cost. installation and maintenance.

Although I have described my invention in some detail by way ofillustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it isunderstood that certain changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A fence post construction comprising a plurality of relatively short,solid, vertically stacked, cylindrical blocks having a relatively smalldiameter bore extending axially thereof and a chordal, indentedcontinuous 'V-shaped groove in at least one end thereof, said groovebeing in communication with said bore and slightly onset with respect tothe axis of said bore, a metal 4 rod having a diameter only slightlyless than that of said bore extending through the bores of all of saidblocks, a plurality of fence strands each carried in one of saidgrooves, and means on said rod to clamp said stacked blocks in positionwith respect to each other, said grooves, bore and rod being positionedwith respect to one another so that each fence strand is clamped in itsv-shaped groove by adjacent blocks and said fence strands and rod are inelectrical contact with said fence strands being maintained in straightlines.

2. A fence post construction comprising a plurality of relatively short,solid, vertically stacked blocks having a relatively small diameter boreextending axially thereof and an indented, continuous V-shaped groove inat least one end thereof, said groove being in communication with saidbore and slightly oifset with respect to the axis of said bore, a metalrod having a diameter only slightly less than that of said boreextending through the bores of all of said blocks, a plurality of fencestrands each carried in one of said grooves, and means on said rod toclamp said stacked blocks in position with respect to each other, saidgrooves, bore and rod being positioned with respect to one another sothat each fence strand is clamped in its V-sliaped groove by adjacentblocks and said fence strands and rod are in electrical contact withsaid fence strands being maintained in straight lines.

KRISTIAN TRYGVE TORSTENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 311,710 Annable o Feb. 3, 1885411,027 Heindel l Sept. 17, 1889

